Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 1059 - 1063

MELVILLE C. CAMPBELL, whose name is familiar to the greater portion of the people of Sedgwick County, occupies a pleasant residence at No. 1227 North Emporia avenue, Wichita, and is numbered among the most extensive cattle owners of this section. A native of Kankakee, Ill., he was born Sept. 6, 1849, and is of pure Scotch ancestry, one of the fourth generation of his family in the United States.

             Rev. James Campbell, the father of our subject, who was born in Greene County, Ohio, in 1808, was a son of Henry Campbell, of South Carolina, who was a Revolutionary soldier, and cousin of Col. Robert Campbell, one of the commanders of the patriotic forces at King's Mountain, who defeated the British troops under Gen. Ferguson. James Campbell in his youth emigrated with his parents from his birthplace to Montgomery County, Ind., where he subsequently became acquainted with and married Miss Priscilla, daughter of John Mick, an extensive export merchant of that county. Mrs. Campbell was born in Flemingsburg, Ky., and was of German extraction, the scion of an excellent family which made its advent into the New World several generations ago.

             After his marriage James Campbell engaged in agriculture in the Hoosier State until 1846, when he removed with his family to Will County, and three years later to Kankakee County, the same State. There he became considerable of a land-owner, from which he subsequently improved several farms. In 1862, inspired by that patriotic spirit which pervaded the loyal North during the dark hours of the Rebellion, he enlisted, at the age of fifty-four years, in Company H, 76th Illinois Infantry, and served gallantly until the last armed traitor had surrendered to the authority of the Federal Government. He participated actively in the campaign through Central Mississippi, was taken prisoner at Holly Springs by Gen. Earl Van Dorn, but feigning sickness, was released without parole, and immediately rejoined his command. There-after he participated in the siege of Vicksburg and the operations around Mobile, including the charge at Ft. Blakeley. In the summer of 1865, after the general surrender of the Confederate forces, Elder Campbell, as he was known, returned to his home in Kankakee County, Ill., and re-engaged in civil pursuits.

             In 1875 James Campbell, taking just pride in his honorable war record, came to Kansas for the purpose of availing himself of his right to a tract of Government land to leave as further evidence of his having been a soldier, which he did, and after residing upon it the necessary length of time, and obtaining his title from the Government, he returned to his old home in Illinois and resumed his usual pursuits, continuing thus occupied until 1880, at which time he retired from active business.

             The father of our subject had a mind well stored with the events of three-quarters of a century, spanning the most important period of our country's history. He vividly remembered the calling together of the minute men in the War of 1812, and the thunder of cannons on Lake Erie, where Commodore Perry won such imperishable glory. He met in convention at various times during his life many of the great men of the country, among whom were Horace Greeley, Thurlow Weed, Tom Corwin, Thomas H. Benton, Dick Johnson, of Kentucky, and many other politicians. The events of the Mexican War, and the history of its inception, were also matters which came under his personal observation. He stood squarely with Tom Corwin, of Ohio, protesting earnestly against the policy of the Government in prosecuting a war against a sister Republic, merely for the acquisition of slave territory. In the war of the Rebellion, as before stated, he was an active participant, and the writer on many occasions during that sanguinary struggle on the tented field, under the battlements of Vicksburg, and elsewhere, heard him make the declaration that "if he had a hundred lives he would freely give them all rather than the country should submit to the domination of slave power."

             James Campbell witnessed the marvelous growth of the country from a nation of seventeen States and a population of 15,000,000 to a nation of thirty-eight States and a population of more than 60,000,000. He felt thankful for having lived in an age so historic and so full of wonderful achievements. The golden sunset of his life was beautifully spent in reading, traveling and retrospection. On the 6th of January, 1888, after a brief illness from paralysis, he peacefully passed to the other shore. His loving and worthy companion died Aug. 9, 1886. They were both devoted Christians, and had been life-long members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They had reared a family of nine children, all of whom survive them.

             The eldest brother of our subject, Clinton C. Campbell, was born in Montgomery County, Ind., in 1837, and emigrated to Illinois with his parents in 1846. Upon reaching mature years he was found to be a man of more than ordinary abilities, and became the incumbent of various offices, among which he served as a member of the State Board of Equalization for the Ninth Congressional District of Illinois, and later was the candidate of the Republican party as Member of Congress from the Ninth Congressional District in 1880, being defeated by Judge Payson. He is still living in Kankakee County, Ill., and is one of the stanch business men of the northern portion of the State. Elizabeth Campbell is the wife of Alonzo Curtis, a merchant and manufacturer, of Kankakee County; and John Frank, the second son, an attorney-at-law, is also a large land and stock owner of that locality, Winfield S. Campbell was born in Crawfordsville, Ind., in 1842, and enlisted in the military service of the United States during the late war, when but a youth of nineteen years, becoming a member of Company H, 76th Illinois Infantry. He participated in numerous engagements, among which were the battles and siege of Vicksburg and Jackson, and after which he was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant in the 66th United States Colored Infantry. After the campaign of Bayou Macon, in Louisiana, in 1864, he was made First Lieutenant and Adjutant, and in the fall of that year was detailed with his command to Arkansas, and participated in many skirmishes, the most noted being with the detachment of Gen. Price's command as the latter was retreating from Missouri. Lieut. Campbell was subsequently ordered to Vicksburg and assigned to duty as Acting Assistant Adjutant General of the post and defenses of the city. About this time he received a Captain's commission, and was also made Acting Inspector General of the Southern District of Mississippi, which rank and position he held until the close of the war - having thus distinguished himself at the early age of twenty-three years as a military officer of no ordinary merit. Upon his retirement from the army he engaged in the practice of law, and also being fond of the pursuits of agriculture, has given much of his attention to this industry. William H. Campbell, a resident of Barton County Kan., is largely interested in real estate there, and for the last two years has represented his county in the State Legislature; Mary is the wife of Dr. O. B. Campbell, of Cleveland, Ohio; Alice married Benjamin Garland. a ranchman, of Caldwell, Kan.; James P., the youngest of the family, is interested as a stock‑dealer in company with his brother Melville C., of our sketch, and makes his home in Caldwell.

             Melville C. Campbell acquired such education during his younger years as could be obtained in the public schools of Illinois, and assisted his brother William in taking care of the farm and family during the years their father was at the seat of war. Upon attaining his majority he commenced farming on his own account and was thus occupied in his native county until 1874. During that year he crossed the Mississippi, and coming to this State, turned his attention to real estate and agriculture in Barton County. His prompt and energetic method of dealing, his solid worth and public-spiritedness, soon placed him among the prominent citizens of this section, and in 1876 he was elected to the office of County Clerk, retaining that position the succeeding two years. He then engaged in the business of cattle and horse ranching, driving and maturing, which he has since carried on with great financial success. His stock ranch is most desirably located in the Indian Territory, is well watered and in every way finely adapted to its purpose. He drives most of his cattle from Texas, and in 1887 handled 18,000 head.

             Mr. Campbell came to Wichita to reside in 1879, and built his present commodious home in 1886; it is in the finest residential quarter of the city, and is fully supplied with all the conveniences and comforts of the best social life. To the gracious and pleasing hostess who presides over this charming home our subject was united in marriage Oct. 1, 1876, at Great Bend, Kan. She was formerly Miss Ella S. Smith, and was born in Van Buren County, Iowa, Sept. 8, 1859. She is a daughter of James B. and Mary (Bryson) Smith, both of whom were born near Uniontown, Pa. They married in that State, migrated to Iowa, and settled in Van Buren County, where Mr. Smith was extensively and successfully engaged in farming for several years. In 1868 he removed with his family to Henry County, Mo., where he became largely engaged in the stock business, being one of the first men to introduce Texas cattle into that State. Seven years later, in 1876, Mr. Smith moved to Kansas and settled in what is now Stafford County, of which he was one of the organizers and its first County Treasurer, holding that office for two terms. He owns considerable land, besides property in the town of St. John, where he and his wife now make their home. To them six children have been born, namely: Emma, wife of George A. Dunn, a banker of Larned, Kan.; Alice, who died in Stafford County, Kan., in August, 1881; Bryson S., real-estate agent, at St. John; James and Charles are partners in the furniture business in St. John, and Mrs. Campbell, who is the next to the youngest in order of birth. In politics Mr. Smith is a radical Republican, and in religion a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have one daughter, Jetta G., a bright girl of eight summers.

             Mr. Campbell is a member of the Republican party and formerly took an active part in politics, but the management of his business interests will not now admit of his giving attention to public affairs. The property of Mr. Campbell has been acquired by the exercise of sound judgment, good business talents and industry. His fair dealing and systematic methods of doing business have won for him the confidence and respect of all with whom he has had occasion to transact business.

[ Home ]